3 Top Loans for Championship Clubs

The Football season is quickly approaching with the Football League kicking off in under 3 weeks time. By that point all clubs will have wanted to have built a squad ready to compete for the first set of games, even before the transfer window shuts at the beginning of September. This season looks to be another fierce competition in the second tier. We are seeing more money spent than ever in the last couple of years and with 46 games, a whole squad comprised of abilities is required as a minimum to have a chance of promotion. Astute signings can be the catalyst for a jump in performance so making the right deals will be crucial. Although a lot of loan deals happen late on in the transfer window I’ve identified 3 loan players who are currently in the Premier League in which Championship clubs should make a real effort to sign ahead of a gruelling campaign.

1. Alex Pritchard – Tottenham Hotspur

A very talented player, I feel the 23 year old’s career is getting away from him with last season a real waste of the wingers ability. The former Brentford player had a loan at West Brom which was never well suited and failed to gain any level of first team football over the whole season. This is now a key campaign for Pritchard who should in my eyes, get away from White Hart Lane ideally permanently but a loan move seems more realistic at this stage. The cultured play maker flourished at Griffin Park and was one of the standout performers a couple of seasons ago. A similar move to a side that look to keep the ball on the floor would be perfect. His tricky feet, ability to keep the ball and be effective in the final third would mean if any Championship club signed Pritchard, it would be a real statement of intent. A return back to the Bees would be a great move for both parties while I think he would be a great addition for QPR and Aston Villa particularly with those clubs in need of this type of player and in search of promotion this term.

The most ideal player when it comes to handling the Championship season, the Algerian has it all. You need players who are willing to fight for the cause and Guedioura has done that at every club he has been at. He also has some brilliant footballing qualities that combine to make him such an effective footballer. His situation is currently a difficult one at Watford where he struggled to feature much until late on last season. With the Hornets squad filled with plenty of Central Midfielders it puts Guedioura in a familiar position where he will once again not get enough game time in the Premier League. There is no doubting he will want to change this trend but it looks unlikely to happen. A return to one of his former clubs, Wolves and Nottingham forest, would go down very well I’d imagine. I also think the 30 year old would again be a good addition for Aston Villa while Brighton and Fulham would also be good destinations with the Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic bringing in Guedioura to Vicarage Road which was a massive part of Watford’s promotion campaign.

Another player who has impressed at Championship level but hasn’t made an impact in the top tier mainly due to a lack of opportunities. In similar fashion to Pritchard, Bamford could really do with getting out of Stamford Bridge permanently and settle at a club. While this would seem unlikely he must pick the right party this time. The striker is still 22 and can certainly improve elements of his game but he would be a great addition for a club that are in need for goals. The forward’s main qualities are his movement and he creates opportunities for himself. I think he would be an amazing signing for Wolves. He would be the perfect fit at Molineux but I’m doubtful as to whether that would be a realistic deal. Garry Monk could also try an ambitious move which would really be a good fit for Leeds. A move back to Norwich where Bamford was loaned last season would be ideal for the Canaries having lacked firepower but again this seems unlikely with how things panned out last season. With other promotion favourites well equipped up front, Bamford may not even have many suitors who are clear favourites for the league so it could be a case of holding on until later in the calendar to see where he could end up. With this likely to be the case, certain clubs should make him a top target this summer.

Would you take any of these 3 players at your club? Would they be realistic targets? Let us know in the comments below!